Construction unit



March 31, 1970 A. E. MOORE CONSTRUCTION UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 8- Filed April 22, 1968 FIG. I5

INVENTOR. ALVIN EDWARD Moons.

ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,503,589 CONSTRUCTION UNIT Alvin Edward Moore, 916 Beach Blvd., Waveland, Miss. 39576 Filed Apr. 22, 1968, Ser. No. 722,979 Int. Cl. E04h 17/14; E02b 3/20 U.S. Cl. 256-19 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A sheet pile or construction element of a canal, channel, seawall, boat-house foundation, earth-retaining wall, basement or other house wall, or fence, at least part of which is positioned in the ground. Although it optionally may have an entirely straight, horizontal lower edge, driven into the earth, it preferably has at least one vertically elongated wooden or concrete post or pile part or relatively small cross-sectional area that is sunk into the ground and is fixed to a wide panel, which optionally may be either imbedded in or clear of the ground. The unit has a tongue and a groove for interconnecting (and optionally interlocking) with other units.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of one form of the invention, exampled in FIGURE 2 as comprising a unit of a fence.

FIGURE 2 is a view in side elevation of the construction unit of FIGURE 1, but showing its structure as not completebefore fastening the second half-pole to the horizontal planks.

FIGURE 3 is a detail plan view, from the plane 33 of FIGURE 2, of two interconnected units, partly broken away, of the type of FIGURE 1, with the protective and ornamental cap 26 fastened over the joint between two units.

FIGURE 4 is a detail sectional view of the two units of FIGURE 3, partly broken away, shown as in section from the plane 44 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a detail view, in section from the plane 5 5 of FIGURE 2, showing the lower end of the elongated post or pile part after it is completed by addition of the second half-pole.

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view of a second form of the invention.

FIGURE 7 is a detail view, in section from a plane similar to the sectional plane of FIGURE 4, showing the elongated post or pile part as being made of concrete.

FIGURE 8 is a detail view, in section from a plane similar to the sectional plane of FIGURE 5, showing the lower portion of the concrete pile part of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a detail view, in section from a plane similar to that of FIGURE 8, showing an optional variation in the shape of the concrete (or optionally wooden) pile part.

FIGURE 10 is a detailed view in cross section from a vertical plane thru part of one form of the panel portion of the unit.

FIGURE 11 is a detailed view in section from a horizontal plane thru a pair of interconnected units (shown as partly broken away), with the middle part of one of the units forming an angle in a wall or fence.

FIGURE 12 is an elevational view of an optional form of the Wooden or concrete post or elongated-pile portion of the unit.

FIGURE 13 is a top plan view of the post or pile of FIGURE 12.

FIGURE 14 is a top plan view of a wooden or concrete post or elongated pile that is square or rectangular in cross section.

FIGURE 15 is a top plan view, partly broken away,

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of an optional form of the panel portion of the unit; and

FIGURE 16 is a view in end elevation of another form of the panel portion.

FIGURE 17 is a top plan view of the panel portion of FIGURE 16, partly broken away, assembled and fixed in a postor elongated-pile portion that is rectangular in cross section.

FIGURE 18 is a top plan view of a construction unit which interlocks with adjacent units in a wall or fence.

FIGURE 19 is a top plan view of a modification of the interlocking type of unit of FIGURE 18.

FIGURE 20 is a view in side elevation of the unit of FIGURE 18, which further shows an element attached to the top of the unit for facilitating pile-driving of the unit.

Each of the illustrated construction units comprises: a post or elongated-pile portion (indicated at 1 in FIG- URES 1 and 2, at 2, 3 and 4 in FIGURE 6 and at 5, 6 and 7 in FIGURE 20); and, fixed to the pile portion, a panel portion (shown at 8 in FIGURES 2, 6 and 20). In each of the units of the invention the post or elongatedpile portion may be of wood (preferably treated and with wood preservative), as indicated in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6, or of molded dense plastic, reinforced with fiber glass or nylon fibers or fabrics, or of reinforced concrete (preferably having light-weight aggregate), as shown in FIG- URES 7, 8 and 9. This pile portion may be somewhat rounded in cross section, as indicated in FIGURES 3 to 8, 12 and 13 and at 6 in FIGURES 19 and 20, or rectangular, as indicated in FIGURES 9 and 17 to 20. In each of the disclosed forms of the invention the wide, panel portion of the unit also may be of wood (preferably treated with wood preservative), or molded dense plastic (reinforced with fiber glass or nylon fibers or fabric), or reinforced concrete (preferably having light-weight aggregate). In any of the units this panel portion may be part of a fence unit and have spaces 9 between its horizontal planks; or as indicated in FIGURES 6, 10, 15, 16, 18 and 20, these planks may be close together and form a solid wall.

FIGURES 1 to 5 show a construction unit that comprises only one vertically elongated pole-like post or pile member 1 that is driven into the ground. This is a composite post, comprising two fiat-sided outwardly curved elements 10 and 11, one of which is fastened on each side of one end of the panel portion 8. In FIGURE 2 only the curved member 10 (on the side of the panel away from the viewer) is shown, but before the post or elongated-pile portion is put in the ground the member 11 is also fastened to the panel part. As indicated in FIGURES 4 and 5, these members may be of wood. They may be made by sawing poles in halves along their axes; but preferably they are formed of creosoted halves of the cylindrical veneer cores left from cutting veneer from logs.

In making the unit of FIGURES 2 to 5, the curved, fiat-sided member 10 and the shorter plank 12 are laid in a fixture which properly spaces them and provides below them a nail-clenching metal or hard concrete surface. Then waterproof glue (preferably epoxy-resin cement) or liquid asphalt is applied to upper surfaces of the members and on the glue (or asphalt) the planks 14, 14 are laid (properly spaced, if the unit is to be in a fence, by parts of the fixture). Long nails 16 then are driven into the wood and clenched below 10 and 12 (alternatively bolts in bolt holes may be substituted for these nails); the middle upright plank 12' is thus fastened; and the board 18 is nailed to ends of the planks 14, 14'. Next, the filler board 20 is laid on glue (or asphalt) and nailed or bolted as indicated at 21. Then the flat side of the curved element 11 is laid on glue (or asphalt) over the ends of the planks 14, 14 and over the filler board 20, and is bolted or nailed to these planks and to elements 10 and 20. And the final step in the assembly in the fixture is nailing or otherwise fastening the cap 23 (of wood, dense plastic (reinforced with fiber glass fibers), or metal) to top edges of planks 12 and 14.

For connection with other construction units in a fence or wall, the unit is provided with a tongue and groove. Element 18 forms the tongue; and the groove 22 is formed between outer parts of the fiat sides of members 10 and 11. Optionally, this tongue-and-groove connection may be of the interlocking type shown in FIGURES l8 and 19. In this event, the groove 22 is widened by interposing boards (of the type shown at 24 in FIGURE 19) between 10 and 14, 14' and between 11 and 14, 14'; and plank 18 is widened to interlock in the widened groove.

In assembly in a fence or house wall of the units thus made, the following steps optionally are taken:

(1) Two holes are dug, by use of a post-hole digger or shovel, that are spaced by the approximate width of a unit; into one of these holes the lower end of a post or elongated-pile portion 1 is inserted; if the plank 14 is clear of the ground, the other edge of the unit (adjacent to 18) is blocked up, with a concrete block, bricks or the like; and the unit is temporarily but securely braced in vertical position and in the desired line of the fence or wall;

(2) Properly spaced from elements 10 and 11, another post or pile hole is dug; and into this is adjusted the lower end of the post portion of another unit, with the board 18 snugly fitting in groove 22;

(3) While holding 18 firmly against ends of the planks 14 and 14 (manually or with the use of a C-clamp): nailing or bolting 10 and 11 tothe boards 14 and 18 of the second unit;

(4) Finely adjusting the second unit into the proper fence or wall line;

(5) Filling and tamping earth around the end of post member 1 that is in one of the first-dug holes (alternatively, concrete may be poured around that post end);

(6) Continuing to set units in accordance with steps (2), (3), (4) and (5) until the fence or wall is completed (with the use of units of the type of FIGURE 11-to be described later in this specification-at angular portions of the wall or fence); and

(7) Nailing the cap 26, shown in FIGURE 3, to the tops of elements 10- and 11 and the upper plank 14.

Instead of digging holes for the elongated members 1, these may be sunk into place by use of water from a jet on sandy soil or mud beneath 20. Or they may be driven into the ground by a post or pile driver; and in this event all the units except the first one that is driven in a wall or fence are beveled in the manner indicated at 28 in FIGURE 6 to force the groove 22 firmly against the adjacent tongue of a post member.

Although the form of the invention shown in FIG- URE 6 also may be installed in dug or water-jetted holes, it is especially adapted for installation with the use of a post or pile driver. It differs from the invention form of FIGURE 2 in that it has a second post or elongated-pile member, 3 (similar in construction to member 1, having a filler piece 32 that is similar to 20, but not having the groove 22), and has a third post or elongated-pile element, 4, which forms both the tongue of a tongueand-groove connection and a part of the composite post member at the joint between units. This element 4 is preferably thicker than element 18, and may comprise two planks 32 that are fastened together, for example by nails and glue. Alternatively, it may comprise the unitinterlocking type of tongue shown in FIGURES 18 and 19, in which event the groove 34 is also of the interlocking type shown in those figures. The panel boards 36 in FIGURE 6 may form part of a solid wall, as indicated, or may be spaced apart in a fence in the manner shown in FIGURE 2. And the tongue-and-groove connection at the joint between units optionally may be covered with a cap of the type of element 26. Cap 35 also is an optional part; ordinarily neither of the elements 26 and 35 will be utilized when the unit is topped by a higher section of a house wall or a roof.

FIGURES 7 and 8, in section from planes similar to 44 and 55 of FIGURE .2, show the elongated post or pile portion as being made of concrete, which preferably comprises light-weight aggregate and is reinforced with metal rods or mesh. Preferably metal or plastic sleeves are inserted in the concrete at the time it is cast, and in its assembly with planks 38 bolts are inserted-thru these sleeves and thru holes in the planks, before clamping the elements together by the addition of nuts. Optionally, the post or elongated-pile portions may be molded of dense plastic, reinforced with fiber glass fabric or fibers. If the tops of these members are rounded in cross section their portions below the lowermost horizontal plank are shaped as shown in FIGURE 8; but if they are rectangular the shape of their lower parts is indicated in FIGURE 9.

In a wall the horizontal planks and the joints between them optionally may be of several types. If the wall is to retain earth fill or water the joints are tight and preferably guarded against leakage. When the planks are common boards, rectangular in cross section and in flush arrangement, they may (if in a house wall) be sheathed on each side by other wall materials; or they may be slightly spaced from each other and the resulting small cracks may be filled with rubber cement or other flexible material. Alternatively, the planks may be wedge-shaped in cross section and overlapped in the clinker-built style of boat construction; or formed like house clapboards; or with tongue-and-groove connections; or they may be in a wall of the type indicated in FIGURE 10. Here the planks 40 are in flush but not tight arrangement, slightly spaced to allow for expansion-unless they are assembled while expanded with Water or creosote; and they are sheathed by a panel 42 of large surface area. This panel may be of plastic, metal, plywood, or of pressed wood or cane fibers; and when the wall is to retain earth-fill panel 42 is waterproof and exposed to the fill.

FIGURE 11 illustrates an angular middle part of a construction unit. The wall or fence angle shown is a right-angle, but this angle may be of any desired number of degrees. This middle part comprises: planks 44 and 46, having ends at the angle that are stacked in staggered or overlapped arrangement; and fastened-together post elements 48 and 50 (if of concrete or plastic these elements are combined in an integrally molded part). Optionally, the angular portion also may comprise a strengthening angle (or angled pair of narrow planks) 52.

The post or elongated-pile member optionally may be made as indicated in any of FIGURES 12 to 14 and 17 to 20. In FIGURES 12 to 14 this member (made of wood or reinforced concrete or plastic) is unitary, having an upper slot 54 for reception and fastening of the panel portion; its outer shape may be rounded as shown in FIGURE 13 or rectangular as in FIGURE 14. In FIG- URES 17 to 20 the groove comprises post parts that overlap and are fastened to side edges of panel portions (56 in FIGURE 17; 58 and 60 in FIGURE 18; 62, 64 and 24 in FIGURE 19); and in FIGURES 18 and 19 the grooved portion comprises elements 66 (of Wood, metal or plastic) that are fixed to the other post parts and, when connected to another unit, interlock with tongue projections 68.

Other optional types of panel portions are shown: in FIGURE 15 as comprising planks that are clamped and glued with epoxy-resin cement in face-to-face arrangement (their edges being free of contact with each other); and in FIGURES 16 to 18 the panel-forming planks are shown in end elevation as staggered, and glued or otherwise fastened together.

FIGURE .20 illustrates a device, temporarily attached to a construction unit, that is of aid in driving the unit with a pile or post driver. This device comprises a steel bar 70 that rests on top of the unit and is fastened to it by a pair of laterally-spaced, screw-comprising clamps on each face of the unit. Each of these clamps comprises: a steel projection 72, fixed to 70; and a bolt 74 that is screwed in threaded holes in projection 72, and has an end which frictionally engages the face of the panel portion when it is tightly screwed toward that portion. The driving device further comprises: a shock-absorbing wooden block 76, fixed to the top of the unit (against which the pile or post driver pounds); a pair of laterally spaced eye bolts 78 that are welded and/or bolted to element 70; a pair of steel clevises, having axles 82 that are pivoted in the eyes of the eyebolts; and a pair of cables 84 (shown as broken away), having lower loops that extend thru the clevises and upper portions that are connected to winches on the pile or post driver. With the use of this device, the construction units may be lifted, adjusted into proper position, and driven without disruption.

Within the scope of he following claims, various modifications of the disclosed structure may be made.

I claim:

1. A construction unit having:

a bracing, elongated post-portion, comprising at least one pole-like member that has upper and lower parts, said lower part adapted to be sunk in and fixed to the ground, said pole-like member having separated elements that provide panel-holding space between them, for reception and fastening therein of one end of a paneled portion of the said unit, and a groove space between them that is adapted to form the groove of a tongue-and-groove connection between the said unit and a similar, adjacent unit;

a paneled portion, adapted to be located above said lower part when installed in a structure, extending laterally from said pole-like member a distance that is at least four times as large as the largest crosssectional dimension of said pole-like member, comprising: a plurality of elongated plank-like elements, each of which has a length that is at least two times as large as its width and has a post-engaging end that is fixed in at least part of said panel-holding space; and an end element, fixed to ends of at least some of said plank-like elements that are spaced from said post-engaging end, said end element comprising the tongue of a tongue-and-groove connection.

2. A unit as set forth in claim 1, in which said polelike member is of wood and comprises halves of a pole, out along its axis, said halves extending from top to bottom of the unit, and in which said lower part comprises: parts of said halves that project beyond and downward from said paneled portion; a filler piece between said last-named parts; and means fastening the filler piece to said halves.

3. A unit as set forth in claim 2, in which said halves are halves of a cylindrical core resulting from the cutting of veneer from a veneer log.

4. A unit as set forth in claim 1, in which said polelike member is generally rectangular in outer configuration and comprises a plank-like elongated bar on each side of the post-engaging ends of said plank-like element, said elongated bars forming said panel-holding and groove spaces, and in which said lower part comprises a filler piece, fixed in and between the ends of said bars that project beyond and free of said panel portion.

5. A unit as set forth in claim- 1, in which said polelike member is an integral element, and has a slot in its upper end that forms said panel-holding and groove spaces.

6. A unit as set forth in claim 1, in which said polelike member is of a material that is plastic when it is being shaped and that sets into a rigid substance after it is shaped into said member.

7. A unit as set forth in claim 6, in which said material is concrete.

8. A unit as set forth in claim 1, in which said polelike member and said paneled portion comprises concrete.

9. A unit as set forth in claim 1, which comprises, at a middle part of said paneled portion, a second pole-like member, having a lower part that is adapted to be sunk in and fixed to the ground, and an upper part that comprises spaced sections, in and between which said planklike elements extend and are fixed.

10. A unit as set forth in claim 9, in which said end element comprises a lower part, adapted to be sunk in and fixed to the ground, projecting beyond and free of said paneled portion, and comprising a portion of the said tongue.

11. A unit as set forth in claim 1, in which each of the said plank-like elements of the paneled portion comprises two end-joined members that are at an angle to each other, and in which said unit further comprises, at said angle, a second pole-like member, having a lower part is adapted to be sunk in and fixed to the ground, and an upper part, fixed to ends of said end-joined members, that braces said last-named ends at said angle.

12. A unit as set forth in claim 1, which further comprises a device that is of aid in lifting and positioning said unit in relation to the ground, said device comprising:

a metal bar that is at least as long as said unit is wide, resting on the top of the unit and extending from one end of it to the other end;

two pairs of spaced, metallic brackets, one pair on each side of said unit, each of said brackets being fixed to said metal bar, extending downward from the bar to a point below the top of said unit, and having a threaded aperture;

a bolt-like element screw-threaded in said aperture, into temporary clamping arrangement with a side of said paneled portion;

adjacent each end of said bar, a joint, connected to said bar, comprising elements that pivot with respect to each other; and

a pair of cables for lifting and adjusting the position of said unit, one of said cables being connected to each of said joints.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 167,007 8/ 1875 Miller 25624 830,437 9/ 1906 Humphrey. 1,130,287 2/ 1915 Horvath 256-24 1,714,949 5/ 1929 Collier et a1. 2,955,806 10/1960 Block 25619 3,193,255 7/1965 Burdett 25619 3,339,327 9/1967 Kempf 52589 X FOREIGN PATENTS 603,266 1/ 1926 France.

DENNIS L. TAYLOR, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 6 1-49 

